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Hardesty Constitional (#4) with CA, then Hardesty up-down (#5) solo

November 21, 2015 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 40-50? sunny

Comments:
Slept in a bit, and left EUG in thick clouds. Got to Lowell and busted through the cover to a beautiful inversion! Got to the TH excited to run.

The plan today: constitutional with CA, then up-down, solo. Brought along a bottle and a plain sugar donut (leftover from our anniversary donut-fest). I knew I needed *some* water and fuel...

The climb was very easy. Once again, CA ran faster in front than behind me, so she led for the first 80%, which included a pee and poop stop by her. She's struggling a bit: got in IUD put in on Tuesday (but "relationship development"), but has been feeling crappy ever since.

I led the last mile, pushing just a bit. HR had hovered 140-150, but I pushed it into the 160s. We wound up summitting a respectable 71, feeling great.

The rest of the run, I'd be out front, wanting to run the downs fast, then I'd ease off on the flats and ups and let CA catch up. All was good through Sawtooh - and a beautiful sun-drenched ridge - and a fanstastic water stop at the spring, now gushing with fall rains. A big wind storm rolled through this week, putting several trees onto the trail, including a big one on the Lost Creek switches.

As before, once we got on the road, CA was in pain: R foot, then L "deadbutt". She fell back. I kept it super easy, but still pulled away.

I ran behind her, again quite easy, on Goodman. She was HELLA-negative about everything: pain, being slow, "not being lean"... It's brutal to listen to, and an enormous downer. "It" - whatever we're doing, wherever SHE is at - is never enough. Ever. It's really frustrating and not "who she used to be" as a runner. Yes, she has pain and issues, but a lot of it stems from this ongoing conflict between "fear of missing out", which causes her to run too aggressively (like running this route), but also being hyper-negative about the state of her body (and her mind).

Hit the parking lot in a respectable 3:14 (not counting several stops). I quickly pounded some water - but not enough - and left with a half-bottle and one single donut nug for the up & down. But I was feeling fantastic and ready to rip an "assertive" climb.

Felt solid for the first half, then the rest played out similarly to LAST year - 52 weeks ago - when I did this same run, majorly bonking: Got to within a half-mile and my HR was jacked to nearly 180, reducing me to a walk several times. But I still summitted in 69.

But I was pretty wasted. Not quite as dizzy as last year, but cooked. So I laid there, apparently for nearly ten minutes, quickly pounding the donut nug and last of my water, and waited for a little rebound. Then got going...

I was REALLY worried, and really pissed at myself: WHY do I do these LONG, tough runs with so little? Gotta learn my lesson sometime! Thank GOD, there's a teeny spring in the final mile. It wasn't running at all, but there was enough pooled for me to guzzle about 25oz on the spot, then carry another full bottle for the rest of the descent.

Felt significantly better almost immediately, turning a stumble-shuffle into a normal, darn-near-strong descent.

Hit the parking lot in ~5hr. The splits (HR)

Hardesty 1 - 71:xx (146)
Sawtooth - 30:24 (143)
Lost Creek - 33:xx (*evidently didn't split or stop the watch, 132)
Road - 21:24 (133 - SUPER-low HR! Usually 150+ on this)
Goodman - 41:38 (137)
----- 3:15
Hardesty 2 - 69:35 (168)
descent - 4x:xx (141)

GOOD run, but damn, it's stupid to basically force a bonk based on nutrition-hydration, alone. Otherwise it was a very conservative effort!

PM: stopped for pulled pork nachos and brisket to go at "Killer Smoke" in PH, then home, where I simply "chillaxed to the max" with a beer and "Road House". Other than laundry, we just chilled at home the rest of the night.